Spaced wall container



Jan. 19, 1954 LUND SPACED WALL CONTAINER Filed April 9. 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l i I [17 1 517 f 0.1" Mamas KL and Patented Jan. 19, 1954 SPACED WALL CONTAINER,

James K. Lunaoak' Park, lll., assignor to The Dole Valve Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 9, 1949, Serial Nassau 4 Claims. (01. 220-) This invention relates to liquid dispensers, and more particularly to a dispensing device of the type wherein one liquid, such as a flavored syrup, is arranged to be dispensed with a carbonated mixing medium for compounding of a refrig erated beverage.

It has been customary in the dispensing of carbonated beverages to employer liquid dispenser which includes an arrangement for dispensing a predetermined quantity of flavoring syrupand for simultaneously dispensing a proportionate quantity of carbonated liquid medium. a It is important in dispensing such a beverage to maintain uniformity and high quality of taste by cooling both the syrup and the carbonated liquid so that drinks will be dispensed at such a degree of temperature as to appeal to the aesthetic tastes of the consumer.

' To accomplish the end aforementioned, beverage dispensing cabinets have been heretofore provided which include an enclosing casing surrounding an inner container suitable for receiving a refrigerating medium such as cracked ice. The inner container and the enclosure are usually assembled in spaced relationship so as to provide an insulating chambertherebetween; A unit of this type is further provided with an appropriate cover structure. I

The deficiencies of the structures heretofore provided have been manifold. For example, in order to establish an insulating chamber, it has been necessary to provide a plurality of fins or structure supports between the enclosure and the inner container. Such provisions frequently necessitate the fabrication of a complicated integral structure comprising a series of nested containers welded together out of a number of separate component parts. 'It will be readily apparent that structures of this type are seriously deficient insofar as heat transmitting properties are concerned because an integral metal construction transmits heat quite readily through conduction.

The construction of an adequately insulated dispenser cabinet conforming to the designs and specifications heretofore provided has also resulted in the establishment of prohibitive selling prices because of the high expense ofumanuiacture necessarily entailed through the fabrication of a. complicated structure, I

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a beverage dispenser cabinet which overcomes the deficiencies of the structures heretofore provided.

One object of this invention is to provide a multt-function resilient ring structureor junction V v z strip which serves to 'align an inner container and an outer enclosure. in predetermined spaced assembly and seals the insulating chamber formed ,therebetween. The strip also protects the marginal rim portions of the inner container and the enclosure during servicing operations and receives and retains a cover structure thereupon.

A further object of this invention is to provide a low cost dispenser cabinet which is completely efiicient for its intended purpose and which may be easily manufactured from relatively simple component parts.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a beverage dispenser cabinet which is a tractive in itsoutward appearance and which may be constructed of relatively simple parts to form an eflicient compact assembly.

Many other advantages and objects of the present invention will become apparent to those versed in the art upon makingreference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a beverage dispenser cabinet embodying the principles of my-invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the details of construction of the cabinet shownin Figure l; r

'Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view partly in cross section showing the details of construction of a novel resilient ring structure made a part of this invention; 7

Figure 4 'isa cross-sectional view taken on line IVY-IV; and v Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view in side elevation of a portion of my beverage'dispenser cabinet showing additional details of construction and illustrating how the assembly of my cabinetjmay be accomplished.

[As shown on thedrawings: I Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 a beverage dispenser'cabinet is indicated generally by the reference numeral |0 and is shown as including a cover structure I Lian outer enclosure I2, and an inner container IS.

The cover'structure I I isDrefera-bly formed as a stamping and may be formed from sheet metal. It may, however, be desirable to form the cover 1 l as a molded plastic member. In any event, the cover I I may be provided with a recessed portion such as at lla.,to facilitate grasping of a handle 14 fastened to the, cover It by fasteners 'The outer enclosure l2 may by way of preferred embodiment, take the form of a shaped The inner container 13 preferably takes the form of a light metal casting. The container.

l3 may be provided with an upper belled flange 13a and is further provided with certain depending bosses lab (Figures 2, 4 and 5), the utility of which will be explained presently.

As will be evident upon making particular reference to Figures 2, 3 and 5, the components of the dispenser cabinet It may be integrated as a unit assembly through the employment of a novel resilient ring structure or junction strip indicated generally by the reference'numeral [8.

The ring structure or strip It has an irregular cross section which is characterized by an angularly inclined inner face portion l8a which ex: tends downwardly from an upper cover-retaining ridge 18b and terminates in a lip I80 defining one wall of an acutely inclined flange-receiving recess 18:1. The other wall of the recess PM is formed by the body 18a of the ring structure.

A cover-seating portion It lies adjacent and below the ridge I82) and terminates in a lip its! which depends substantially normal to the plane developed by the seating portion it The lip llig defines one wall of a substantially vertical recess liih. The other wall of the recess lilh is defined by the body We of the ring structure I8.

Referring particularly to Figure 5, it will be noted that the belled flange of the inner container l3 may be inserted into the recess ltd of the resilient ring structure 18. When so inserted, the inclined face lBa of the ring structure I8 will form a substantial continuation of the belled flange |3a since it conforms to the general contour thereof. r

The inner container [3 thus seated in the resilient ring structure 18 may then be dropped into the outer enclosure l2. The ring structure 18 will serve to align the inner container l3 in a predetermined spaced relationship relative to the outer enclosure l2 by virtue of the relative spacing between the vertical recess lth and the angularly inclined recess [8d in the ring structure l8.

When the wall of the enclosure I 2 comes'in proximity to the ring. structure I8, it will enter the recess 1th. The inner container l3 will therefore lie in spaced nested assembly with the enclosure l2 (Figure 2). 7

As will be noted on Figures 2 and. 5, a pair of threaded stud nuts l9 may be passed through the floor or bottom l2a of the enclosure 12 in registry with the bosses l3b formed on the bottom of the inner container I3. The bosses l3!) may be suitably apertured and threaded to receive the stud nuts l9, and an insulating spacer made of plastic or the likemaybe placed between the bosses [3b and the floor or bottom 52a of the enclosure 12.

The structures shown in hashed outline on Figures 2 and 4 do not form a part of the present invention but may be referred to briefly for the sake of clarity.

The reference numeral 2| indicates a syrup inner container [3 and is connected to the dispenser base 22.

i A dispenser valve 24 is mounted exteriorly of the enclosure [2 and is provided with a handle 24a as well as an apportioning structure 25 for controlling the flow of syrup from the bottle 2| and the flow of carbonated water from the coil 23.

The inner container I3 is provided with a suitable aperture l3c (Figures 2, 4 and 5) into which a flanged externally threaded mixing sleeve 26 may be inserted (Figure 2).

A substantially cylindrical insulating spacer 21 made of plastic or the like and having an internal bore corresponding to the outer diameter of the sleeve 26 may be placed between the inner container l3 and the floor 12a of the enclosure l2.

A flanged internally threaded locking sleeve 28 may be inserted through a suitable aperture lZb formed in the floor or bottom We of the enclosure I2 for threaded engagement with the mixing sleeve 26. 7

When the locking sleeve 28 is drawn up tightly with the mixing sleeve 26 within the limits prescribed by the spacer 21 and the threaded studs it are turned into the bosses I31), the inner container [3 and the enclosure l2 will be placed in relatively fixed assembly. 7

At this point of assembly, the structure may be turned on itsside and, before the dispenser valvestructure is affixed in place, suitable insulating material having favorable heat transmittal characteristics may be introduced into the insulating chamberbetween the inner container 13 and the enclosure 12 through the aperture 20 formed in the wall of the enclosure 12.

It should be noted that the structure provided to dispense the syrup and carbonated water, including the syrup bottle 29, the coil 23 and the dispenser base 22, may be dropped into the inner container is as an integral unit and the dispenser valve assembly 2 may be subsequently introduced through the aperture E20 and through a corresponding aperture 13d formed in the inner container thereby efiecting an integrated dispenser unit with a minimum of assembly procedure.

Whenever it becomes necessary to charge the inner container with a quantity of cracked ice or other refrigerating medium, the cover H may be simply removed and the ice dropped into the container it. It will be readily evident thatthe ring structure 18 presents a protective buffer surface which precludes damage to the belled flange 13a of the inner container 5 as well as the marginal rim portions of the enclosure [2 during the course of this procedure.

By way of further explanation, it may also be noted that th inner container 53 may be provided with an aperture 29 (Figure l) through which suitable conduits may be attached for connecting the coil 23 to a source of carbonated water.

The reference numeral 3!! (Figure i) is applied to a dotted line showing a downwardly projecting boss which may be formed. upon the lower portion of the inner container [-3 and which may be ofsuch a length as to project through the floor or bottom iZa or the enclosure l2. This boss 38 may be suitably drilled and tapped to accommodate attachments of drainage tubes, thereby permitting the evacuation of water from the inner container [3 resulting'from melted ice.

It will be apparent to those versed in the art that I have described a beverage dispenser cabinet having novel and improved characteristics which is economical to manufacture, simple to assemble and completely efiicient for its intended purpose.

It will also be apparent that I have described a new and improved cabinet structure including a resilient ring which is uniquely characterized by its facility for aligning an inner container and an enclosure in spaced nested assembly and for carrying a cover superjacent such structure.

Although I have resorted to detail in the description of my invention for the sake of clarity. it is contemplated that certain modifications may be made by those versed in the art without departing from the essential spirit of my invention. I do not wish to be limited, therefore, to the specific embodiment herein shown by way of preferred example.

I claim as my invention:

1. A dispenser cabinet, comprising, an insulatably lined casing having spaced inner and outer walls forming a compartment,-a charging opening in said casing above said compartment, a snap-in resilient ring having laterally spaced grooves receiving said inner and outer walls and retaining same in nested spaced apart telescoped relation, said ring encircling said charging opening and having a buffer portion overlying said Walls to cushion during charging of the compartment, an upstanding rib on said ring and a seating portion outwardly adjacent thereof, and a cover for said charging opening seated over said rib and on said seating portion of said ring.

2. In a dispenser cabinet, a casing having an upwardly extending wall with an upper edge, vertical wall means in said casing dividing its inner space into an insulation space and an ice compartment and having an upper marginal portion inwardly adjacent to said upper edge, a charging opening defined by said upper marginal portion above said ice compartment, a snap-in ring made of a resilient elastic material, said ring encircling said charging opening and having a pair of laterally spaced circumferentially extending generally downwardly opening grooves receiving, respectively, said casing wall upper edge and said vertical wall means marginal portion and nesting same in telescoped spaced apart assembly, said ring including buffer portions complementary in shape to the periphery of said charging opening overlying said vertical wall means and said casing, an upstanding rib extending as a continuation of the buffer portion and a seating portion outwardly of said rib and at the base thereof, said seating portion being over the outermost of said grooves, and a cover for said charging opening abutting said rib and received on said seating portion.

3. A dispenser cabinet, comprising, an insulatably lined casing having spaced inner and outer walls forming a compartment, a charging opening in said casing above said compartment, a snap-in resilient ring having laterally spaced grooves receiving said inner and outer walls and retaining same in nested spaced apart telescoped relation, said ring encircling said charging opening and having a buffer portion overlying said walls to cushion during charging of the compartment, an upstanding rib on said ring and a seating portion outwardly adjacent thereof, and a cover for said charging opening seated over said rib and on said seating portion of said ring, said buffer portion comprising a generallyupwardly facing inwardly and downwardly obliqu surface leading into said container funnel-like.

4. A dispenser cabinet, comprising, an insulatably lined casing having spaced inner and outer walls forming a compartment, a charging opening in said casing above said compartment, a snap-in resilient ring having laterally spaced grooves receiving said inner and outer walls and retaining same in nested spaced apart telescoped relation, said ring encircling said charging opening and having a buffer portion overlying said walls to cushion during charging of the compartment, an upstanding rib on said ring and a seating portion outwardly adjacent thereof, and a cover for said charging opening seated over said rib and on said seating portion of said ring, said inner wall having the upper portion thereof sloping generally upwardly and fiaringly outwardly generally funnel-like and said ring having a portion thereof underlying said sloping inner wall portion and interlocked thereby against upward displacement.

JAMES K. LUND.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 752,344 Jones et a1 Feb. 16, 1904 1,854,032 Holt et al Apr. 12, 1932 1,953,585 Brown Apr. 3,1934 2,076,821 Lipman Apr. 1 1937 2,080,923 Lassen May 18, 1937 2,180,886 Thomas Nov. 21, 1939 2,220,695 White Nov. 5, 1940 2,276,635 Weber Mar. 1'7, 942 2,304,292 Wile Dec. 8, 1942 ,306,275 Murray Dec. 22, 1942 2,311,446 Knight Feb. 16, 1943 2,349,099 Kircher May 16, 1944 2,367,409 Kuhler Jan. 16, 1945 2,389,774 Haberstump Nov. 27, 1945 2,426,525 Rundell Aug, 26, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 532,290 Great Britain Jan. 21, 1941 532,426 Great Britain Jan. 23, 1941 

